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Symcox: Where is Philander?

Cape Town - Former Proteas spinner Pat Symcox believes Vernon Philander should have represented South Africa in the ICC Champions Trophy event in England and Wales.

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With an injury cloud hanging over strike bowler Dale Steyn, Symcox believes Philander's ability to swing the ball would have provided an extra weapon in English conditions.

Symcox has also questioned the inclusion of Lonwabo Tsotsobe, insisting the new Highveld Lions addition is not the best man for the job.

"I feel Philander should have been there. I believe he could have been an important weapon in the bowling line-up, especially with conditions suitable to swing bowling," Symcox told the Beeld website.

"I honestly don't believe Lonwabo Tsotsobe deserves his place. If they didn't want to take Philander, then Chris Morris or Kyle Abbott should have gone.

"If you don't have the best team there you can't expect to get the best results. And with Tsotsobe there, I don't believe we are playing with our best team."

Symcox believes South Africa's middle order batsmen - JP Duminy, Farhaan Behardien, Faf du Plessis and David Miller - will play an important role in the competition.

"They will either come in when the team is in trouble at 20/2 or 30/3 and need to consolidate, or when the top order started well and then walk in and win games.

"Why I also feel Philander should have been there rather than Tsotsobe is because of Philander's ability to contribute with the bat at the end of the innings. Tsotsobe has no role to play with the bat."

The Proteas start their Champions Trophy campaign against India in Cardiff on Thursday. Their other group stage opponents are Pakistan (June 10, Birmingham) and West Indies (June 14, Cardiff).


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